Studying Brain Activity During Multi-Step Planning Using the Four-in-a-Row Game in Healthy Adults Aged 18 to 64

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how the brain supports multi-step planning by examining whether people mentally simulate promising future moves while deciding their next action. This research involves healthy adults and focuses on understanding the neural basis of planning using a strategy game called Four-in-a-Row, similar to Connect Four. The study aims to characterize brain activity linked to mental simulation and decision-making during gameplay. Participants will take part in two sessions on consecutive days. The first session is an online behavioral training where participants learn the game rules and play multiple games against computer opponents of varying difficulty. The second session occurs in person and involves brain imaging using magnetoencephalography MEG or functional MRI fMRI while participants evaluate mid-game board positions and select the best moves. Eye movements are also recorded during this session. Throughout the study, researchers will collect data on game performance, brain activity, and eye tracking to fit computational models of planning. They will measure the percent of moves correctly predicted by the behavioral model and the brain activity during the tasks. Participation includes online training, in-person neuroimaging, and possible additional gameplay after scanning. The total involvement spans about two consecutive days with assessments of decision-making and brain function.

Identifying the Neural Correlates of Mental Simulation in Multi-Step Planning